AFTER A tightly contested second set, the Ateneo Blue Eagles took a straight-set win over the De La Salle University (DLSU) Green Archers, 25-16, 28-26, 25-22, on Saturday, March 3, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City.
With the win, the Blue Eagles end the first round with a win-loss record of 6-1 in Season 80 of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) Men’s Volleyball tournament.
Marck Espejo led the team in scoring once again with 21 points, three of which were service aces. Setter Ish Polvorosa totalled 37 excellent sets to go along with his five points. Ateneo was able to keep La Salle to only 29 spikes while racking up 39 of their own.
Ateneo Head Coach Oliver Almadro started captain Karl Baysa, Espejo, Polvorosa, Ron Medalla, Gian Glorioso, Chu Njigha, and Manuel Sumanguid at libero. Service specialists Jobok Morado and Pau Trinidad were used throughout the match while John Rivera replaced Medalla and Baysa in the two latter sets.
The match started as a nip and tuck affair with neither team building a lead until a 5-1 scoring run put Ateneo on top heading into the second technical timeout, 16-12. The Blue Eagles were able to prevent La Salle from scoring more than four points while they scored four straight points to end the set off a quick attack by Njigha, 25-16.
[1st set] Njigha takes set point off a quick play.
Ateneo 25 DLSU 16#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/zEjxW8k1tS
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 3, 2018
The second set was plagued with errors for both sides as attempt after attempt flying wide of the lines. With neither team able to get a foothold, the score remained close until the very end. However, the Blue Eagles were able to pull away through a late 3-0 scoring run thanks to a kill by Espejo, an ace by Polvorosa, and a block by Njigha, 28-26.
[2nd set] Polvorosa’s ace and Njigha’s block gives Ateneo the second set!
Ateneo 28 DLSU 26#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/72PgthBl1Q
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 3, 2018
Ateneo led early in the third set, but a 7-1 scoring run by DLSU tied the score, 18-18. It was a back and forth contest until the Blue Eagles went on a 4-1 run to close out the set with a quick spike from Njigha, 25-22.
[3rd set] Njigha takes match point! Blue Eagles take it in three sets.
Ateneo 25 DLSU 22#UAAPVolleyball pic.twitter.com/D0N6bNXdvZ
— James Gavina (@James_TheGUIDON) March 3, 2018
“Yes, we talk about it, but we take it as an inspiration,” said coach Almadro when he was asked about Ateneo’s one loss of the season as they finished the previous season with a spotless record. Ateneo’s ultimate goal remains to be the four-peat says the veteran head coach.
The second round schedule is yet to be decided as it will be based off the final standings for the first round.
Set Scores
Ateneo-DLSU: 25-16, 28-26, 25-22
Box Scores
Ateneo: Espejo – 21, Medalla – 8, Njigha – 8, Baysa – 7, Polvorosa – 5, Glorioso – 3, Rivera – 1
UP: Woo – 11, Onia – 10, Dumago – 7, Delos Reyes – 4, Reyes – 3, Marco – 1, Maravilla – 1
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